Page 58 of Burn for Me
Taking her hand,he gave her that beautiful Grayson smile that made everything in her melt.
“Baby, we’ve been through a rather difficult few weeks, the four of us. I’ve not brought it up because I know it upsets you to talk about it, but with all that happened, it made me understand just how precious life is. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring and need to make the best of today. It also made me realise that I don’t want to live one more day without you. I want you in my life. Every day.”
So intent on the look on Gray’s face was she, Kitty failed to notice the tears in her mom’s eyes and the joy on her face. Or the man standing beside her. She completely missed Jeff taking her mother’s hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Gray continued, “I had a whole speech prepared, but now that the moment is here, I can’t remember a damn word. What I do remember is how you make me feel when you look at me – like I hold your whole world in my hands. When you smile at me like I am your whole world.”
He paused, and she saw him swallow hard. But when he looked into her eyes, shefeltlike hedidhold her whole world in his hands. He continued.
“Getting to know you, I’ve come to love so many things about you. I love your humour. I love that you’re always smiling, spreading your own special brand of happiness to others around you. I love that you have such a gentle spirit but have the backbone and strength to take on bad times head-on, finding your way out on the other side. I love you, honey. Youaremy whole world. Will you marry me and complete my world?”
Reaching into his pocket, he took out a small, square jewellery box and opened it. Holding it out to her, Gray seemed to be holding his breath.
Kitty’s eyes dropped from his own to the box he held out to her. Her eyes widened when she saw the ring nestled in the satin. Lifting tear-drenched eyes back to his, she could do nothing for a moment but nod.
Eventually she found her voice and whispered, “That was my gran’s engagement ring. Dad gave it to Mom when they got married.”
“I know, honey. Your mom gave it to me to give to you when I asked for her blessing.”
Turning those tear-drenched eyes to her mom, all she could manage to say was, “Mom?”
“Pussycat, the day Daddy gave it to me was one of the best days of my life. And now it’s your turn. May it bring you many years of happiness, just as it did me. More years than I had,” her mother replied with a gentle smile on her lips and tears in her eyes.
“Well, honey, what’s it going to be?”
Finally finding her voice, Kitty launched herself into Gray’s arms, laughing through the sobs. Despite the discomfort it caused her, she couldn’t help herself. Peppering his face with kisses, all she said was, “Yes,” over and over between the duelling emotions.
Gathering her close, Grayson kissed her until everything else faded into the background. The loss of the bakery, the fear of Lee’s vicious attack, the pain of the betrayal, Archie’s suicide and losing her home, all of it faded away.
It didn’t mean that it had allgoneaway. It simply meant she’d finally found someone to quiet the inner demons. It meant that there, in his strong arms, she’d found peace. And love she knew would last well beyond this lifetime.
Epilogue
Two years later
How long didit take to get test results anyway?she wondered, absentmindedly worrying at her bottom lip with her teeth. Surely the doctor should have been back by now. Unless the results were bad news. She hadn’t even considered that.
Refusing to even entertain that thought, Kitty turned her thoughts to Decadence. She had left her new assistant manager in charge of the store while she went to her doctor’s appointment. She missed Jazz terribly, now that the other woman was running the new branch of Decadence. But the replacement was working out well, and she was happy.
Finally, Kitty heard the door close behind her. Clasping her hands tightly together, she waited for the doctor to take her seat. She’d been feeling off-colour for a number of weeks. In the last couple of days, though, she’d begun to suspect she might be pregnant. All the signs pointed to it – the nausea, the tender breasts, the unexplained weight gain. And, most importantly, she was late.
She and Gray had been talking about it for a while, agreeing it was time for her to come off contraception. They were ready to start a family. The thought of a little boy blessed with his father’s good looks and charm warmed her heart. She could picture him in her mind’s eye. Winning the ladies over, just as his father did everywhere he went.
Kitty just hadn’t thought it would happen so quickly. Despite them having made the decision to try, she wasn’t sure how she felt now that the moment of truth was here. Sure, they’d decided the time was right, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t nervous as hell. She’d thought she would have more time to adjust to the idea of being pregnant. Of having a baby.
Dr Dias took a seat behind her desk, still reading papers in the file she held in her hands. After a couple of minutes, she looked up. Folding her hands over the file she placed on the desk in front of her, she gave Kitty a long look before she spoke. The nerves ramped up.
“Well Kitty, it seems your suspicions are correct.” She smiled. “Congratulations. You are, indeed, pregnant. Nine weeks along it seems from the results.”
Touching a hand to her midriff in wonder, Kitty took a moment to absorb the news. Excitement and apprehension rippled through her. There was no turning back now. She took a deep breath.
“Wow. I’m not sure what to say.”
Looking a little puzzled, the doctor asked, “This baby is unplanned?”
Suddenly, that ripple of excitement burst to life.Oh wow! This is really happening. I’m going to be a mom.
Laughing in delight, Kitty replied, “No, not unplanned. It’s just happened a whole lot sooner than we were expecting it to. Gray and I’ve only been trying for a short while.” Her hand found its way back to her midriff, almost unconsciously.
